Finding joy

Outlook

Finding joy

Karen E. Varga

If you ever come to the GIE Media headquarters, located just south of Cleveland, there’s a good chance you’ll see me at my desk as you round the corner and pull into the entrance. And it’s not too much of a stretch to say that you could pick my office windows out of the crowd — the windowsills are full of succulents, and I keep my blinds up to let as much light as possible in. If you look hard enough, you might even see the Christmas cacti and Norfolk Island pine on my desk, and the aglaonema against the wall.

Each time I walk through my office door, I can appreciate the colorful stained glass ornaments and decorative butterflies and bees on the glass beside it. I have no fewer than two calendars with beautiful photography tacked to the walls at any given point, and my coworkers have given me several cat and squirrel-themed decorations. There’s even a tiny ornamental squash perched among the plants on my desk.

Each of these items adds value to my day-to-day, even if it’s simply to make me smile or remind me of a happy moment. There’s something to be said for finding small ways to surround yourself with joy, whether you’re in an office or a greenhouse all day long. It could be adding a motivational poster to a common area, having a “pet” plant in the greenhouse for everyone to enjoy, or simply making a point of stopping to ask employees how their day is going. The ways to find and create joy around you are limitless.

When we were compiling this year’s edition of Greenhouse Greats, we learned that breeder Chris Hansen of Garden Solutions is continually doing what he can to create a fun and creative working environment at the greenhouse. His latest endeavor? Bringing in an adorable, friendly trio of mini donkeys (see this month’s cover for photos) to enhance the vibe and serve as companions for years to come.

As we move into the New Year, it’s a great opportunity to reflect on your own working environment. Do you find ways to incorporate joy into your greenhouse and office space? If not, what steps could you take in 2019 to cultivate a happier, healthier work environment for you and your employees? Share your thoughts with me at kvarga@gie.net